Candidates for Roseville School Board |
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Candidate |
What is the biggest issue facing the Roseville Schools right now? |
What can the district do to ensure its increasingly diverse student body thrives? |
What skills and life experiences do you have that you think will help you on the board? |
Bruce Martin Bruce Martin, 48, is married and has two children attending Roseville schools. Is on the research faculty at the University of Minnesota and has a Ph.D in biochemistry. |
The issues I consider most pressing are recognition and respect for different learning styles, and the enhancement of problem solving skills. | 2 The district needs to continue to recognize different learning styles and adjust to these different styles. This is part of the very motivation for me listing this issue in reply to Question 1. | District Committees: 2001-2007 Friendship Connection Advisory Council • 2002-2007 District Scholarship Committee • 2004-2007 District Curriculum Advisory Committee • 2005-2007 Community Education Advisory Council - Chair-designate for 2007-2008 • 2005-2007 Study Team - Curriculum - Grades K-5 Math • 2005-2007 Study Team - Curriculum - Grades 7-12 Language Arts |
Todd Anderson
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In all honesty, I don’t have any big concerns regarding the school district. We have wonderful community schools, and that’s a testament to our staff, administrators, teachers, etc. I’d say that one of our on-going challenges is to continue to provide programs and innovations that help students achieve and become proficient in core subjects, with funding from the state that barely keeps up with inflation. We are fortunate however to have generous taxpayer support in this community, which cannot be said for all of the surrounding school districts. | Roseville Area Schools currently has a plan for continuous improvement, and it can be viewed by the public on the school district website. Part of that plan is a goal and performance objectives around diversity. I support the school district’s current efforts to improve and strengthen staff capacity to work with all learners and families from diverse backgrounds. If elected, I will make sure that we continually strive to meet our performance objectives, especially when it regards assuring equal access to our community schools for all families. | Previous board and commission experiences have taught me how to work with people toward a common goal. It has also taught me that you will have differences of opinion and ideas with your fellow colleagues, but that you don’t make things personal. No single individual or a person’s agenda should ever be more important than the whole group or board. I also bring a very valuable life experience, and that’s being a parent. I will soon be a proud parent of a child in the school district, and I am greatly looking forward to it. |
Lisa Edstrom
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The biggest issue facing our district is the continuing growth in diversity of students and their needs. All stakeholders must work together to produce a rigorous curriculum, providing opportunity and coursework that are challenging, yet achievable for wide range of students, from those special needs to those with advanced abilities, and every combination in between. Failure to recognize and actively address this issue leads to disparities in learning and opportunity for our students. | We can continue to support development of the Alternative High School, the Equity and Integration program and strengthen critical partnerships such as Northwest Youth and Family Services and our PTSAs. We can encourage the growth and visibility of peer mentoring and community volunteer opportunities. We need to continue working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that appropriate funding is provided and directed to cover the cost of mandated services and testing. | I am an active, engaged, mom with a proven collaborative style. Over the last 12 years I have been involved with our schools in a variety of ways. I have a strong understanding of the critical issues facing our community. I bring over 20 years of professional experience working with community boards and nonprofits on contracts, data analysis and government funding and policy. I support our district mission: Quality teaching and learning for all! |
Jeanne Kelsey
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Some of the biggest issues that our school district is faced with is the reduction in attendance along with providing programs for all of the cities that ISD 623 services. As the first-ring suburbs age and people are moving out to the third and fourth ring suburbs, our school attendance has been dwindling. My concern is how to work with the cities that ISD 623 services to keep families from moving out and to keep our schools vibrant. ISD 623 not only provides education but also services these communities as a senior center, community center and link to many other resources. It is important for ISD 623 to continue to serve in that role and also to find alliance with the cities in the school district to share in the cost of the programs. | Students in schools vary widely among many dimensions — race, culture, size, language, cognitive abilities, socio-economic status, personality and physical abilities and more. Separating students does not work and is harmful in many ways. It is our responsibility as school board members to support the administration and teachers through facilitating an environment that respects the diversity in the class room so students can learn from one another. | I have served on several task forces for the City of Roseville. Some of these task forces where on subject matters that had a lot of contention and at the end of process allowed for all parties involved to walk away with conclusions that allowed for issues to be resolved. In addition I serve as the vice chair of the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for the City of Roseville and serve on the subgroup finance committee which studies, reviews and makes recommendations to the other members on the HRA regarding the budget and financing of programs. So I deal with levies and the fiscal responsibility to residents in our communities. |
Shari Dion
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How do we truly prepare every student in our district for their next stage—first grade, ninth grade, college, life after high school? How do we do this when our students have a full range of needs and abilities and such diverse backgrounds? The biggest issue in District 623 is how we will structure our schools and classrooms and equip our teachers to meet these challenges in an effective and fiscally responsible way. | Students thrive when we expect good things from them and give them appropriate challenges and support. When diversity is celebrated and all cultures, life experiences, needs and abilities are honored, the classroom experience can be relevant for all students. Students remain engaged, and this environment of mutual respect and responsibility enables each student to pursue and achieve their own successes. We must remember that diversity is not just a challenge; it is truly an opportunity. | While earning my B.S. degree in child psychology and doing much work with youth of various ages and from various backgrounds, I have gained insights and knowledge regarding the needs and abilities of all students. My experiences on our District Curriculum Advisory Committee and Math and Writing Review Teams have informed me regarding current curriculum and assessment issues. My mediating experience and commitment to seeking all sides of issues will be assets to the board. |
Georgiana May Georgiana May, 54, is married to Robert Haight, they have two children, Marjorie, 20, who graduated from RAHS in 2005, and Max, 14, who currently attends RAHS. She’s currently an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches and manages a research lab. She holds a Ph.D in plant Biology from the University of California-Berkeley. |
First, treating diversity with respect. Second, the schools need to provide faculty with the means to continually improve teaching and positive incentives for doing so. Third, safety and as part of that, fostering a climate of mutual respect among students, faculty and administrators. | We need an excellent educational system to prepare children and ourselves for a changing world. Teaching world languages from an early age, and opportunities to learn new skills at all ages, are examples of activities which would help ensure success. | I am a parent who plays an active role in my children’s education. I have lived in several areas of the country, and know that a good public education is essential to the social and economic health of a community. As a teacher, I know the excitement and challenges of teaching well. I am a creative problem solver and can find a means to resolve issues. |
Thomas Ring
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In a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world, the district needs to ensure that each student has the full and fair opportunity to achieve his/her potential so that Roseville graduates are truly prepared to succeed in the next phases of their lives. | The school board needs to continue to monitor achievement indicators for all demographic groups while increasing the district’s capacity to work effectively with students, staff, and families of increasing diversity. It is the board’s particular responsibility to address district policies and systemic practices and structures that may, however subtly, work against equitable learning and working environments. | I have four years experience as a school board member. I am a good listener, value input from all segments of our community, and I have common sense and good judgment. My family has first-hand experience with our schools. I have also found the following skills helpful: (1) monitoring for uniformly ethical board practices; (2) policy development, implementation, and review; (3) conflict resolution; (4) human resource management; and (5) effective safety and security practices. |
E.M. (Barney) Bahnemann Sr. E.M. (Barney) Bahnemann Sr. and his wife Karen have adult children. He is a retired graduate of Alexander Ramsey High School. |
Getting the election moved to even years to save taxpayers money. | Take care of the students and people who live in Roseville. | The school of hard knocks and common sense. |
John Kysylyczyn
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1, 2 and 3 My response to the three questions is to refer people to my filing statement. Click here to read John Kysylyczyn's Filing Statement
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Joe Machyowsky, Benjamin Kline and Bryan Olson did not respond to the voters’ guide questionnaire. |
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